After my musings on Robinson Crusoe, I've realized that my next selection is actually very fitting. While Defoe appeared to be commenting on one individual's place in society and the ability to recognize those tangibles that should indeed hold importance, this next novel comments on society as a whole, the role, or lack thereof, of the individual in that society, and the direction that, back in the 30's the author believed the world was heading.
My next selection is Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Originally published in 1932 this novel is one of many social commentaries written by Huxley. While I am familiar with Huxley, I do not know much about his background and plan, while reading this novel to, at least parenthetically, conduct a little research. I believe knowing a smattering about the author will assist me in formulating a well-rounded opinion of this novel.
I began reading this on Friday evening, the 27th of August. I'm through both the foreword and the first three chapters. I am reading the Bantam Books edition published sometime after 1967. This novel is certainly holding my interest as I am both disturbed and intrigued by the images Huxley is painting. The notion of creating individuals, born into specific places in society, by design is alarming, but at the same time I must pause and ask myself if this is not how society really does operate. Needless to say, by the end of each chapter my mind is flooded with outside thoughts which may make reading this novel a bit of a challenge.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Finding solace in isolation
Comparatively that was a FAST read (compared to Bleak House that is), I actually finished it on Thursday evening, however I've just been too crazy busy to find a chance to actually muse over my read. I enjoyed this book and found the fact that Crusoe began the story so pessimistic to be very interesting. One would think that this character would become pessimistic after being kidnapped by pirates and later on being shipwrecked on a deserted island, but no... he began his tale very negatively and his spirits actually improved with every adventure he experienced. I guess Defoe was simply trying to illustrate what really is important in life.
Crusoe truly found himself during his nearly three decades long stay on the island. He witnessed things that brought him closer to God as I believe he simply couldn't reconcile what he was seeing without believing that a divinity was somehow on his side. His capacity for growth was truly inspiring and I think that seeing the perseverance of this individual really could propel someone who otherwise was on the brink of collapse whether physical or emotional.
One must look at this novel as a treatise on getting back to nature, slowing down and I believe it fitting today as an exploration of taking the unnecessary out of one's life. One phrase that really spoke to me as "but what need I have been concerned at the tediousness of anything I had to do, seeing I had time enough to do it in?" If we could all just slow down and accomplish what we "have" to do without thinking about its tediousness I believe we would all be happier by far. Defoe also had Crusoe list the pros and cons of his being shipwrecked and again if we could all find that silver lining, as Crusoe had to, I believe our lives might seem that much more fulfilling. As Defoe so eloquently states (as Crusoe) "there was scare any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something negative or something positive to be thankful for in it."
As I have indicated this novel is really a commentary on the necessities of life. Crusoe muses "that all the good things of this world are no further good to us than they are for our use; and that whatever we may heap up indeed to give others, we enjoy just as much as we can use, and no more." This sentiment is again one that I believe we, as a society today, should take to heart. With wastefulness and over extension of both economics and emotions at the individual level, reflection, such as the kind practiced by Crusoe in this novel, is a necessity one should consider. I know that the effect this novel had on me will propel me to strive to be more reflective and to consider my physical and emotional impact on the environment and society even more than I already do.
In all I found Robinson Crusoe to be full of musings that are as timely today as when this novel was first published. I believe that if I were to take a moment to investigate the social atmosphere of Defoe's time I may find that the sentiments of my contemporaries are akin to those of his. As I indicated above, Robinson Crusoe has certainly caused me to take a moment to reflect on my own existence and has encouraged me to take the time to be thankful for what I have and not to harp on that which I do not.
Crusoe truly found himself during his nearly three decades long stay on the island. He witnessed things that brought him closer to God as I believe he simply couldn't reconcile what he was seeing without believing that a divinity was somehow on his side. His capacity for growth was truly inspiring and I think that seeing the perseverance of this individual really could propel someone who otherwise was on the brink of collapse whether physical or emotional.
One must look at this novel as a treatise on getting back to nature, slowing down and I believe it fitting today as an exploration of taking the unnecessary out of one's life. One phrase that really spoke to me as "but what need I have been concerned at the tediousness of anything I had to do, seeing I had time enough to do it in?" If we could all just slow down and accomplish what we "have" to do without thinking about its tediousness I believe we would all be happier by far. Defoe also had Crusoe list the pros and cons of his being shipwrecked and again if we could all find that silver lining, as Crusoe had to, I believe our lives might seem that much more fulfilling. As Defoe so eloquently states (as Crusoe) "there was scare any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something negative or something positive to be thankful for in it."
As I have indicated this novel is really a commentary on the necessities of life. Crusoe muses "that all the good things of this world are no further good to us than they are for our use; and that whatever we may heap up indeed to give others, we enjoy just as much as we can use, and no more." This sentiment is again one that I believe we, as a society today, should take to heart. With wastefulness and over extension of both economics and emotions at the individual level, reflection, such as the kind practiced by Crusoe in this novel, is a necessity one should consider. I know that the effect this novel had on me will propel me to strive to be more reflective and to consider my physical and emotional impact on the environment and society even more than I already do.
In all I found Robinson Crusoe to be full of musings that are as timely today as when this novel was first published. I believe that if I were to take a moment to investigate the social atmosphere of Defoe's time I may find that the sentiments of my contemporaries are akin to those of his. As I indicated above, Robinson Crusoe has certainly caused me to take a moment to reflect on my own existence and has encouraged me to take the time to be thankful for what I have and not to harp on that which I do not.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Next on the menu...
...Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I'm not sure if I indicated in an earlier post that before I set out and purchase any new material, I will read those Canon texts that I have not previously read which already reside on my bookshelves. This particular novel is part of a comparative collection entitled, "Nobel's Comparative Classics" (published in 1959) and houses Robinson Crusoe, The Raft by Robert Trumbull and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I believe this book may have been permanently "borrowed" from the Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School library by my father, sometime in the late 1960's.
Defoe published Robinson Crusoe in 1719 after becoming fascinated by the story of Alexander Selkirk who spent years on a deserted island off of South America. I have never read this novel before and am curious to see if it hold my interest. I would certainly consider the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away (2000) to be paying a bit of homage to Defoe's Crusoe, and by the end of this novel will be sure to be able to tell if Robert Zemeckis "borrowed" his visual interpretation of William Broyles' screenplay, from Defoe. (Thank you to imbd.com for the necessary information about Cast Away.)
Until next time...
Defoe published Robinson Crusoe in 1719 after becoming fascinated by the story of Alexander Selkirk who spent years on a deserted island off of South America. I have never read this novel before and am curious to see if it hold my interest. I would certainly consider the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away (2000) to be paying a bit of homage to Defoe's Crusoe, and by the end of this novel will be sure to be able to tell if Robert Zemeckis "borrowed" his visual interpretation of William Broyles' screenplay, from Defoe. (Thank you to imbd.com for the necessary information about Cast Away.)
Until next time...
Finally finished...
...and I will say that while this book took me nearly three months to complete, I am glad I spent the time and really took it all in. I love the ending of this novel, events seem to have all worked out and while not everyone ends the book on contented, those who were pure of heart certainly do. I appreciate the formula of literature of this time: the ending of a book nearly always brings a marriage, a death, and some sort of twist. With Bleak House, I indeed received all three.
Dickens is certainly a master. His ability to paint a picture in ones mind is, while not unmatched, striking. I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who has the time and the inclination to take it on. As I have indicated in previous posts, it's a heavy and dense read. Oftentimes I found myself having to go back and reread to be sure I was grasping what Dickens' was alluding to, and there is a lot of allusion.
Not to put to fine a point on it, as Mr. Snagsby would inevitably say, I will close the Bleak House chapter with what I believe to be a wonderful example of Dickens' ability with words alone to be both painter and poet, scribe and illustrator.... "Upon this wintry night it is so still, that listening to the intense silence is like looking at intense darkness. If any distant sound be audible in this case, it departs through the gloom like a feeble light in that, and all is heavier than before."
Thank you Mr. Dickens.
Dickens is certainly a master. His ability to paint a picture in ones mind is, while not unmatched, striking. I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who has the time and the inclination to take it on. As I have indicated in previous posts, it's a heavy and dense read. Oftentimes I found myself having to go back and reread to be sure I was grasping what Dickens' was alluding to, and there is a lot of allusion.
Not to put to fine a point on it, as Mr. Snagsby would inevitably say, I will close the Bleak House chapter with what I believe to be a wonderful example of Dickens' ability with words alone to be both painter and poet, scribe and illustrator.... "Upon this wintry night it is so still, that listening to the intense silence is like looking at intense darkness. If any distant sound be audible in this case, it departs through the gloom like a feeble light in that, and all is heavier than before."
Thank you Mr. Dickens.
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